In this episode of the book club, Alex and her good friend Jules chat about Aussie author Trent Dalton's debut novel Boy Swallows Universe. This novel was released in 2018 and has set the record for the fastest selling Aussie fiction debut since records began - it sold an incredible 200,000 copies in 72 weeks. This book is part survival, part coming of age story that is exhilarating, funny and heartbreaking. Described as a 50/50 mix of fact and fiction by the author, the book is semi-autobiographical. Set in the outer Brisbane suburbs in the 80's, this book is the story of Eli and August Bell's life with a heroin dealer as a stepdad, notorious criminal as a babysitter and a mum in jail. Trent wanted to write a book for the kids of Brisbane's Bracken Ridge much like Dickens wrote about the poor kids of London. He wanted them to know that there is hope and that in fact, the world could be their oyster. Alex and Jules both considered this book to be outstanding. They would both recommend it.
